Electric stop mechanism and contact ring for circular-knitting machines



Se t. 9, 1930. J. WACHSMAN 1,775,298

ELECTRIC STOP MECHANISM AND CONTACT RING FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed DEC. 5, 1929 til L y 24 1 LL44. L ,r

' INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB WACHSHAN, OF BROOKLYN, YORK I ELEGIRIG STOP MECHANISM AN D CONTACT RING FOB CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES Application filed December 5, 1929. Serial No. 411,877.-

My present invention relates to'vknitting machines of the circular type in which a vertical shaft is rotatabl mounted and carries the spools of thread, rst and second circuit '5 closers being provided at different elevations through which the thread passes before passing to a slack take-up device in its travel to the bed of the machine where it is, used.

Priinarily my present invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in the current conducting brush or finger to which the insulated terminals of the circuit closers are connected and in the collecting ring with which that brush cooperates.

Further, the invention seeks to-provide a structure in which the collecting ring is stationary and the brush or contacting finger rotates with the vertical shaft or post of the machine, the finger having a wiping contact with the edge of the ring in order to keep the contacting surface bright and clear.

Further, the invention has for its object to provide slack take-up devices cooperating with the ring as a circuit it closer whereby 2 when too much slack inthe thread occurs, or

the thread breaks, the circuit to the stop magnet will be closed by contact of the take-o up device with the bright edge of the contact rin Egain it is an objectvto provide for the maintenance of a clear wiping contact surface edge of the rin so that not only will the brush or finger ma e good contact with the ring but the resilient wire takeu arms, when released into contact with the ring, will have a clean fresh surface to engage.

Further, it is an object to provide a construction in which the ring is stationary and the take-up device turns with the center post 4 of the machine so that when it springs up into engagement with the contact rin it will have a wiping contact therewith an thus assist in keeping the edge of the ring free from lint, corrosion or dirtwhi'ch would tend to increase the resistanceof the electric circuit or render contact oor.

. co-pending slack take-up devices.

In the drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 represents the rotatable central shaft or post of the knitting machine which is mounted in suitable bearings 9 supported from the bed 8. The post 1 is rotated in any suitable manner (not shown) and carries a series of radial-arms 2 which support the spindles for the spools 3. Above the arms 2 is anotherset of radial arms 4 which carry the first circuit closer, (also known as the end detector) the construction of which circuit closer is preferably that disclosed in my 1application filed January 15 1929, Serial 0. the present invention.

Near the top of the post is mounted a series of arms 6 which support the top box or knot detector circuit closer 7 which may be of the construction disclosed in the aforesaid application or that disclosed in m application filed on even date herewith, er1al No. 411,876. a 1

Beneath the set of arms 2and secured; to the post 1 is a disk 11 from which, preferably at diametrically opposite points, radiate contact fingers or brushes 16 which are insulated from the rin 11 as at 15 and to which the insulated circuit terminals of the circuit closers 5 and 7 are electrically connected as indicated by wires 24 in Figure 1. Mounted on fixed supports 20 through insulating connections 19 andlugs 18 is a contact'ring 17 with the under edge of which the brushes or fingers 16 Other objects W111 in part be obvious and \(preferably two or more) have a wiping conin part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects tact. brushes 16 being rotatable rub along t e un- The ring 17 being stationar the 332,644'and per se isnot of 50 and ends, my invention consists in the novel der edge of the ring and assist in maintaining its surface bright and clean for good electrical contact.

Mounted on the disk 11 are slack take-up devices consisting of brackets 10 having radiating arms, in the outer ends of which are porcelain eyes 12 through which the thread passes. Secured to the brackets 10 are spring wire slack take-up arms 13 having porcelain eyes 14 through which the thread passes and which are projectedunder the ring 17 so that when released their springy action will throw them up into contact with the lower edge of thermg 17 alongwhich they wipe due to the rotation of the post 1, and effect electrical connection between the ring and the post, the post being grounded to the frame of the machine as is one terminal of the battery 23,

-' spool 3 the other terminal of which connects to the release magnet 21 that operates the stop lever 22, the magnet 21 being electrically connected by wire 25 with the ring 17.

In operation the thread is passed from the spool 3 through the circuit closer mechanism 5, thence upwardly through the circuit closer mechanism 7, thence downwardly through the eyes 12 and 14 and to'the place where the thread is being used (not shown). The slight tension on the thread is suflicient to hold the arm 13 out of contact with the ring 17. Should, however, too much slack occur or should the thread break, the arm 13 will contact the ring 17 and close the circuit. Should the end of the thread from the as the circuitv closer 5 that circuit closer W111 be operated to close the circuit of the magnet 21 at that place and stop the machine. So also if it breaks between the circuit closers 5 and 7 as soon as the end of the thread passes the circuit closer 7 that circuit closer will operate to stop the machine. The circuit closer 7 also has provision for closing the circuit of the release magnet 21 in the event that a knot is formed in the thread before it reaches the circuit closer 7.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have rovided a sim 1e and effective mechanism or its int'ende purpose so constructed that all danger of failure to operate properly is eliminated. The wiping contact between 1 the brushes or fingers 16 and the ring 17 keep the contacting edge of the ring which cooperates with the arm 13 bright and clear and free from accumulation of dbris so that when" an arm 13 is released it will instantly make good electrical contact with the ring and efiect instant stoppage of the machine.

Furthermore should any lint collect on the arm 13 between it and the ring 17 the minute the arm contacts the ring, due to the rotation of the arm with wiping contact of the ring, the friction will clear off the lintand enable electrical contact to occur.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

Wires 26 having their free ends stripped of insulation may be mounted adjacent each post 20 so that if the attendant desires to stop the machine he can do so by touching the end of the wire 26 to the post 20.

What I claim is:

In apparatus of the character described wherein is provided a circular knitting machine having electrical stop devices including a stop magnet, and first and second circuit closers, means to connect said circuit closers in circuit with said magnet, said means including a stationarily held conductor ring, supports therefor insulating said ring, an electrical connection between said ring and said stop magnet, said machine including a vertically rotatable post, a disk secured to said post, a contact finger carried by and insulated from said disk and underlying said ring and engaging the edge thereof with wiping contact, and an electrical connection from insulated terminals of said circuit closers to said contact finger for the purposes described.

2. In apparatus of the character described wherein is provided a circular knitting machine having electrical stop devices including a stop magnet and first and second circuit closers, means to connect said circuit closers in circuit with said magnet, said means including a stationarily held conductor ring, supports therefor insulating said ring, an electrical connection between said rin and said stop magnet, said machine inclu ing a vertically rotatable post, a disk secured to said post, a contact finger carried by and insulated from said disk and underl said ring and engaging the edge thereof wit wiping contact, and an electrical connection from;

insulated terminals of said circuit closers to said contact finger, said circuit closers having their other terminals grounded to the frame of the machine and said magnet having a terminal grounded to the frame of the machine, a battery being included in the circuit ofsaid magnet substantially as described.

3. In circular knitting machines, a rotate able post, a spool carrier mounted thereon, thread guides carried by the post throu h which the thread passes from a spool on t e spool carrier, thread 'des including circuit closers controlled y the thread, a contact finger electrically connected with said circuit closers and carried by, rotatable with, and insulated from said post, a fixed contact ring insulated from and mounted on the bed of, the machine with which ring said finger has wiping contact, a stop motion magnet, a battery connected in circuit between said circuit closers and said magnetvand said ring. 4. In circular knitting machines, a rotatable post, a spool carrier mounted thereon,

which the passes from a spool on spool carrier, thread guides'including circuit closers controlled y the thread, a contact finger electrically connected with said circuit closers and carried by, rotatable with, and insulated from said post, a fixed contact ring insulated from and mounted on the bed of the machine with which ring said finger has wiping contact, a stop motion magne a a battery connected in circuit between-said cucuit closers and said magnet and said ring, a thread guide bracket mounted on, turning with and electrically connected to said post and having a thread-passing e e, a ring take-up arm mounted on and in e ectrica con tact with said bracket and having a. threadpassing eye, saidtake-up arm projecting beneath said ring and adapted when released to spring up into wiping contact with said ring to close a circuit through said stop magnet for the purposes described.

JACOB WACHSMAN. 

